CBDv - Cannabidivarin Explained
Cannabis contains dozens of cannabinoids, which are the chemical compounds in the plant that affects our bodies in different ways. Some cannabinoids get us high, some have health benefits, and most are poorly understood compounds that need to be researched further.
In this series, we will take a look at a few of the most well-researched cannabinoids that are found in cannabis.
Even if you’re somewhat familiar with the cannabis community, you might not have heard about cannabidivarin, also known as CBDV. CBDV isn’t as widely known as cannabinoids like THC and CBD, but more and more people are looking into its potential health benefits.
As the name suggests, CBDV is similar to CBD in molecular structure. Much like CBD, CBDV can’t get you high. Despite these similarities, CBD and CBDV seem to have different health benefits. While CBDV hasn’t been studied as extensively as CBD, many people in the cannabis communities believe it is a powerful, effective treatment.
Here’s what you need to know about the potential health benefits of CBDV.
The health benefits of CBDV
Most of the reported health benefits of CBDV haven’t been proven - they still need to be tested on humans in large clinical studies before we know for sure whether CBDV can treat these issues. But for now, the studies that are out there have some exciting results.
According to research, CBDV might be able to treat the following conditions:
- Seizures. You might have heard about the CBD-based drug Epidiolex, which has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of seizures. The company that developed Epidiolex, GW Pharmaceuticals, is currently working on a CBDV-based seizure treatment.
- Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). A 2019 study has shown that CBDV might be able to treat some of the symptoms of DMD, which is characterized by muscle degeneration, pain, and inflammation.
- Nausea. According to research based on rats, CBDV might be one of the many cannabinoids that can reduce nausea. This hasn’t yet been tested on human subjects.
- Rhett Syndrome. Some research has indicated that CBDV could be an effective treatment for Rhett Syndrome, a disease characterized by seizures, muscle spasticity, and speech impediments.
Again, these health benefits haven’t been confirmed - but there’s no doubt that more research on CBDV will be conducted in the future.
How to take CBDV
After reading about the potential health benefits of CBDV, you might want to try it for yourself. But where can you get CBDV products?
Firstly, strains that are high in CBD tend to also be high in CBDV. If you’d like a strain that’s high in CBDV, ask your budtender or seller for a high-CBD strain. Some manufacturers do sell CBDV oils and tinctures - depending on where you live, you might be able to buy it online or in a dispensary.
If you’re hoping to use CBDV to treat potentially dangerous conditions like DMD and seizure conditions, it’s imperative that you talk to your doctor before trying CBDV as a treatment. CBDV shouldn’t replace your prescription medicine without a doctor’s guidance.
GW Pharmaceuticals, which is currently studying and developing more cannabinoid-based treatments, is allegedly making way with its CBDV drug - but it isn’t widely available yet.
It’s also a good idea to speak to your doctor if you’re using cannabinoids of any kind, as they’ll be able to help you choose a dosage and high-quality cannabis products.
Sources
- GW Pharmaceuticals plc Announces US Patent Allowance for Use of Cannabidivarin (CBDV) in Treating Epilepsy. 2015. https://www.gwpharm.com/about/news/gw-pharmaceuticals-plc-announces-us-patent-allowance-use-cannabidivarin-cbdv-treating
- Iannotti, F.A. et al. 2019. Effects of non-euphoric plant cannabinoids on muscle quality and performance of dystrophic mdx mice. DOI: 10.1111/bph.14460
- Merkus, F. 1971. Cannabivarin and Tetrahydrocannabivarin, Two New Constituents of Hashish. https://www.nature.com/articles/232579a0
- Rock, E.M. et al. 2013. Evaluation of the potential of the phytocannabinoids, cannabidivarin (CBDV) and Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), to produce CB1 receptor inverse agonism symptoms of nausea in rats. DOI: 10.1111/bph.12322
- Vigli, D. et al. 2018. Chronic treatment with the phytocannabinoid Cannabidivarin (CBDV) rescues behavioural alterations and brain atrophy in a mouse model of Rett syndrome. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.07.029